Knowledge, I believe, is one of the reasons that I had been in the closet about the strength of my faith. I had nothing more to tell people other than that I believe. Personally, I had little knowledge of where anything came from, other than knowing without a doubt that it all belongs to God. Not once did that belief ever falter. I didn’t need to know all the reasons behind why I believed what I did; I just knew that it was God. My mom was rooted in church and in the Bible, but not publicly; she kept…
Arguably one of the shining stars of the Olympics was Alysa Liu, not only for her athleticism and artistry, but for authentically being herself. As one watched the Olympic Games unfold, it was evident that a movement was developing among the athletes. A movement that was positive, unified, grateful, and joyful for having an opportunity to live out their dreams. I have watched the Olympics throughout my lifetime, but I have never seen one athlete change the perspective of so many people simply by authentically being themselves. Alysa accomplished this, and the world saw her joy the moment she entered…
My mind suddenly turns a switch and, for that brief moment, wonders if anyone is watching. Of course, there are things where we desire privacy, which is understandable, and thank you. But what about all the times when we are about to cross a line of ethics? Turning my head left and right, questioning if anybody is watching my actions. Whenever those thoughts come into my head, I quickly move to analyzing what I’m doing. Why am I doing something that I have to ask myself if anyone is watching? It is a trigger for me, a warning, a…
Each day, I strive to share love without blame. I have moments when judgment sneaks in, but I quickly change my thoughts to what I can do to improve the current situation. Sometimes that means I have to let go of something that was said or done. Other times, I can let compassion take over and better understand the current situation. What I like best is when the situation allows me to grow through simply taking a moment to see a different perspective than my own. Blame has yet to work in my favor. Sometimes I am wrong, and other…
There are many things in life that I might enjoy, but I choose to avoid because they are toxic to me. Things that I may love, but for some reason, take me off track, off my path. The most important thing to me is that I recognize the things that are toxic in my life. Some things I can eliminate, others I can distance myself from, and then there are the things I live with daily that I must manage. When it is clear to me that something is poisoning my ability to serve Jesus, I know it is time…
How different would our lives look if, instead of being defeated, stressed, and worried, we chose to be thankful? This isn’t something that I casually say; for me, it was very intentional, a decision to give control to Jesus. Yes, my life was faith-based, but I needed to activate my faith throughout my day. It is one thing for me to understand Jesus is my priority; it is another thing to live it. An organization called Path to Faith showed me how simple it can be. I didn’t say it is easy, but quite simple. There were…
Chaos, that noise that comes into my life every time I move off focus. Webster defines it differently: a state of extreme confusion and disorder. My interpretation stems from years of watching chaos disrupt an otherwise calm environment. When I am on focus, wearing the armor of Jesus, chaos rarely interferes with my daily activities. I am aware of the chaos, but I can navigate around the confusion it brings to our lives. The attacks keep coming, and the confusion exists, but there is a peace that allows me to walk through the noise. The inner peace stems from trusting…
Something that has transformed how I function in life is when I decided to review every judgment I make; instead of putting that judgment on others, I make a change in my own actions. All while trying to rid myself of all judgments completely, which is a work in progress. I have watched the movie War Room numerous times. Not because the plot is exciting or that one particular thing in the film is life-changing. I watch it because for me, there are so many hidden gems within the movie. So many subtle ways to change our actions to…
Sometimes I have to stop and ask myself if I am comfortable with how I am living my life. This is a loaded question because if I am comfortable, that could mean several things. On one hand, being comfortable could mean that I am living my life within the boundaries of what I believe to be acceptable and am content. But sometimes comfortable can mean I am in a routine and don’t want to leave that zone. Most of my life, I have lived outside my comfort zone, but I have continually strived to maintain inner peace. Understanding that…
As the year comes to an end and a new year begins, I take a rare and quick look back at my choices for the last 12 months and a brief glimpse into what I might choose in the coming year. Knowing there is a path for me, realizing it is my will to follow, or not. I will be gently nudged and at times pushed so long as I am listening for the signs. When the noise is distracting me, I move to prayer to regain my peace and center myself on Jesus. Who has control? If I hear…